OBITUARY: Mary "Mae" A. Matthews
Mary "Mae" A. (Lynch) Matthews, 95, of RiverCourt Residences, West Groton, passed away Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013 at the Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer. Born March 2, 1918 in Allentown, PA, Mae was the daughter of the late Charles and Mary Agnes (Killian) Lynch. She graduated from Allentown High School in 1936 and attended Temple University for 2 years, studying accounting and office management. She worked as an office manager for Container Corporation of America when she met and, in 1951 married the late Edward I. Matthews in Philadelphia where they resided until 1963. They moved to Boxborough in 1964 where she lived until 2007.
Mae was much loved by family and friends for her warmth and hospitality and was a woman of deep faith. She was a wonderful wife, mother and hostess, and her home was open to all. Mae was particularly devoted to her autistic son, John Patrick "Patrick". She is survived by her four children, Charles E. Matthews and his wife Laura (Barr) Matthews of Nashua, NH, John Patrick Matthews of Burlington, Massachusetts, Edward I. Matthews III of Cardiff By The Sea, CA, and Maureen Matthews Beal and her husband Stephen Beal of Groton. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren, Patrick and his wife Carly (Gaudette) Matthews, Emily and Timothy Matthews, Brian and Alexandra Leeds Matthews, and Thomas, Robert, and Michael Beal. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Edward, in 2004, and her beloved sister, Margaret (Lynch) Simpson, in 2008.
Mae was a homemaker, Girl Scout leader and school volunteer, who, after her children were grown, worked for many years as office manager for Suburban Manor Nursing Home in Acton. She also served as Chair for the Boxborough Republican Town Committee and taught CCD at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Acton. She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing bridge with friends. She loved the beach, particularly in Stone Harbor and Ocean City, New Jersey. She enjoyed chartered sailboat cruises with her husband, friends and family, exploring the New England coast and Chesapeake Bay. After her husband Edward retired in 1984 they travelled extensively to Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Mae will be missed by all whose lives she touched.
Visiting hours are on Fri, Sept. 6th from 5-7 pm at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, 89 Arlington Street in Acton. The visiting begins with the Reception Rite at the church entrance at 5:00pm followed by a Vigil Liturgy service, then visiting with the family until 7 pm. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth of Hungary on Sat., Sept. 7 at 10 am, with burial following in South Cemetery, Burroughs Road, Boxborough.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc., PO Box 767, Framingham, MA 01701; also online at http://www.dougflutiejrfoundation.org.To share or offer a condolence please visit www.actonfuneralhome.com
